Trash bag retainer

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for holding a flexible and collapsible plastic trash bag. A rigid trash receptacle receives the plastic trash bag and includes a plurality of apertures along the side walls of the receptacle to allow air between the bag and receptacle to escape as the bag is filled. The top portion of the bag is folded over the upper rim of the receptacle and is secured thereto by a retainer collar which is removably mountable onto the rim. The collar extends above the receptacle to hold trash stacked above the rim which will be subsequently compressed below the rim. A lid is provided for closing the top opening of the retainer collar or receptacle.

llnited States Patent [191 Martin 1 TRASH BAG RETAHNER [76] Inventor: Eugene D. Martin, 312 Granada Rd., Bloomington, 111. 61701 [22] Filed: June 19, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 263,841

[ 1 June 11,1974

Primary Examiner-William 1. Price Assistant Examiner-Steven M. Pollard Attorney, Agent, or FirmWoodard, Weikart, Emhardt & Naughton 5 7 ABSTRAUI An apparatus for holding a flexible and collapsible plastic trash bag. A rigid trash receptacle receives the plastic trash bag and includes a plurality of apertures along the side walls of the receptacle to allow air between the bag and receptacle to escape as the bag is filled. The top portion of the bag is folded over the upper rim of the receptacle and is secured thereto by a retainer collar which is removably mountable onto the rim. The collar extends above the receptacle to hold trash stacked above the rim which will be subsequently compressed below the rim. A lid is provided for closing the top opening of the retainer collar or receptacle.

3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures l TRASH BAG RETAINER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention is in the field of trash receptacles.

2. Description of the Prior Art Many types of trash receptacles have heretofore been proposed for use in receiving plastic trash bags and the like. A representative sample of the prior art is disclosed in the following US. patents:

US. Pat. No. 3,115,986 issued to H. M. Grofi;

US. Pat. No. 3,402,848 issued to .l. J. Busey;

US. Pat. No. 3,422,985 issued to D. L. Rinehart; and

U.S. Pat. No. 3,648,875 issued to G. A. L. Lundgren.

A problem occurs when filling a plastic trash bag which is mounted within a receptacle in that the air trapped between the bag and receptacle prevents the bag from assuming a ready full configuration. The receptacle disclosed herein has been provided with a plurality of apertures to allow the trapped air to escape between the bag and receptacle.

Another problem of many of the prior art trash bag receptacles is that the user frequently fills the bag above the top rim of the receptacle. Thus, the user must simultaneously hold the bag open, fill the bag with trash and support the top portion of the bag which extends above the receptacle as the trash is stacked above the rim of the receptacle. The apparatus disclosed herein includes a retainer collar which holds the bag open while providing an extension whereby the trash may be stacked above the receptacle rim. The trash may then be compacted and compressed below the rim with the retainer collar then being removed from the receptacle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus for holding a flexible and collapsible plastic trash bag comprising a rigid trash receptacle having a main body with a closed bottom and an open top with a rim, the main body includes a plurality of apertures for allowing trapped air between the body and the bag to es cape as the bag expands during the filling thereof, and a collar removably mounted to the rim for securing a portion of the bag between the collar and the rim.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved apparatus for receiving trash.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for holding a plastic trash bag in such a way that the bag is allowed to assume a ready full configuration.

In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which includes a receptacle for holding a trash bag open and an extension mountable to the receptacle which extends above the receptacle to facilitate stacking of trash above the rim of the receptacle.

Related objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGJ is an exploded view of an apparatus incorporating the present invention.

. 2 FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the receptacle shown in FIG. 1 having a trash bag mounted therein and secured thereto by the collar shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown an apparatus 10 for holding a flexible and collapsible plastic trash bag 25 shown in FIG. 2. Apparatus 10 includes a rigid trash receptacle 11 having a main body 14 with a closed bottom end 18 and an open top 17. The main body includes a plurality of apertures 15 for allowing trapped air between the trash bag 25 and the main body 14 to escape as the bag expands during the filling thereof. Apertures 15 may be slots which extend axially along main body 14 with a plurality of the slots being positioned around the circumference of body 14. Likewise, apertures 15 may take the form of the holes in a perforated sheet or screen in lieu of slots. A pair of handles 16 are mounted to body 14 to facilitate the lifting of the receptacle.

As shown in FIG. 2, the plastic trash bag 25 is inserted into receptacle l1 and then folded over the rim of the receptacle. A rigid collar 12 is removably mountable to the rim for securing a portion of the bag between the collar and the rim. The collar includes an annular member 20 which is integrally joined to a tubular extension 19. Main body 14, annular member 20 and tubular extension 19 are each cylindrical and are axially aligned. The main body 14 has an outside diameter not greater than the inside diameter of the annular member 20. The annular member is frictionally. fittable on and surrounds the rim of body 14 to secure the top portion of the bag as shown in FIG. 2. The inside diameter of body 14 is not less than the inside diameter of tubular extension 19. The inside diameter of tubular extension 119 is less than the inside diameter of annular member 20 thereby forming ledge 21 which rests atop the receptacle rim.

Lid 13 has a handle 23 secured thereto with the lid being mountable to tubular extension 19 when the collar is mounted to the receptacle. Likewise, the lid is removably mounted to the receptacle 11 when the collar 12 is not mounted to the receptacle.

In one embodiment, the plastic bag measured 21% inches in diameter and 56 inches in length. The plastic bag was inserted into the receptacle with the open end 26 of the bag being folded over the top portion of the receptacle approximately ten inches thereby allowing sufficient reserve for closing the end and tieing it when the bag is full. The retainer collar may then be mounted on top of the receptacle so that the plastic bag may be held in place. The apertures or perforations in the side walls of the receptacle allow the trapped air between the bag and the inside wall to escape as the bag is filled.

When bagging loose trash such as leaves which need compaction, the receptacle can be filled up to the top of the retainer collar. Leaves should then be compacted or compressed until level with the top of the receptacle. The retainer collar actually serves as a reservoir for loose trash until it can be compacted to the level of the top of the receptacle. The retainer collar is then removed and the folded over portion of the bag is unfolded, closed and tied. The receptacle may then be tipped over on its side and the bag slipped from the rec'eptacle. As the bag is removed, the vacant space between the receptacle and the bag is filled with air through the perforated sides. Without the perforations, a vacuum would be created and it would be difficult to remove the bag because air pressure would be holding the bag within the receptacle. Of course, the receptacle will permit compaction and compression of the trash while it is within the bag without tearing or bursting of the bag. In one embodiment, the receptacle had a height of 35 inches, a top diameter of 21 inches and a bottom diameter of 20% inches. The handles were located on the outside of the receptacle approximately inches from the top of the receptacle.

Many variations in the present invention are contemplated and included. For example, annular member could fit within the receptacle in lieu of on the outside of the receptacle as shown in FIG. 2. That is, the retainer collar could be provided with an inner flange for fitting within the receptacle or alternatively the receptacle could be provided with an outer flange for internally receiving the annular member 20. Likewise, the retainer collar could be provided with a rubber or metal lip or seal for contacting the top rim of the receptacle. The retainer collar would fit externally of the rim. Another embodiment of the present invention contemplated and included herein is a retainer collar which is expandable having a spring or latch to keep the collar secure either internally or externally with respect to the receptacle. ln addition, a larger rubber band may be placed around the top rim of the receptacle to prevent the plastic trash bag from slipping.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for holding a flexible and collapsible plastic trash bag comprising:

a rigid trash receptacle having a main body with a closed bottom and an open top with a rim, said main body includes a plurality of apertures for allowing trapped air between said body and said bag to escape as said bag expands during the filling thereof;

a collar removably mounted to said rim for securing a portion of said bag between said collar and said rim, said collar being separate and not connected to said bag; and wherein:

said collar is rigid and extends above said receptacle to hold trash stacked above said rim which will be subsequently compressed below said rim;

said collar includes an annular member and a tubular extension integrally joined and axially aligned, said annular member is frictionally fittable on said rim to secure a top portion of said bag when inserted in said receptacle and folded over said rim, said tubular extension is impervious to air preventing movement of trash and air outwardly through said tubular extension and directing said trash downwardly to fill said bag, said collar being removable when said bag is filled to allow contact only between said bag and said main body with air passing through said aperture into said receptacle during bag removal;

said main body, said annular member and said tubular extension are each cylindrical and axially aligned;

said main body has an outside diameter not greater than the inside diameter of said annular member, said main body has an inside diameter not less than the inside diameter of said extension.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

said apertures are slots which extend axially along said main body with a plurality of said slots positioned around the circumference of said main body.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 and further comprising:

collar is not mounted to said receptacle. 

1. An apparatus for holding a flexible and collapsible plastic trash bag comprising: a rigid trash receptacle having a main body with a closed bottom and an open top with a rim, said main body includes a plurality of apertures for allowing trapped air between said body and said bag to escape as said bag expands during the filling thereof; a collar removably mounted to said rim for securing a portion of said bag between said collar and said rim, said collar being separate and not connected to said bag; and wherein: said collar is rigid and extends above said receptacle to hold trash stacked above said rim which will be subsequently compressed below said rim; said collar includes an annular member and a tubular extension integrally joined and axially aligned, said annular member is frictionally fittable on said rim to secure a top portion of said bag when inserted in said receptacle and folded over said rim, said tubular extension is impervious to air preventing movement of trash and air outwardly through said tubular extension and directing said trash downwardly to fill said bag, said collar being removable when said bag is filled to allow contact only between said bag and said main body with air passing through said aperture into said receptacle during bag removal; said main body, said annular member and said tubular extension are each cylindrical and axially aligned; said main body has an outside diameter not greater than the inside diameter of said annular member, said main body has an inside diameter not less than the inside diameter of said extension.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said apertures are slots which extend axially along said main body with a plurality of said slots positioned around the circumference of said main body.
 3. The appaRatus of claim 2 and further comprising: a lid removably mountable to said tubular extension when said collar is mounted to said receptacle and removably mountable to said receptacle when said collar is not mounted to said receptacle. 